REGINA (Staff) – The woman who changed the face of rural health care in Saskatchewan is no longer health minister.
Louise Simard, the author of the province’s “wellness” approach and the architect of dozens of hospital closings and changes, resigned the health portfolio last week.
She will stay on as an MLA, but will not run in the next provincial election.
As well, John Penner, associate finance minister announced he was leaving his portfolio, as did NDP backbencher Serge Kujawa.
Simard has been replaced by the former associate minister of health, Lorne Calvert. Ned Shillington has left the labor ministry to take over Penner’s former position.
As part of a wider cabinet shuffle, Eldon Lautermilch is out of gaming and into energy, while former energy minister Doug Anguish takes over the labor spot.
Joanne Crofford takes over gaming. Fred Thompson becomes associate minister of economic development.
